Wondering If I Have an Allergic Reaction or Something Else?

I went into the doctor a few months ago for this. I can't remember what it was called. Are they kind of oval in shape? or could look like the tier of a christmas tree? some kind of dry or flakey, some not? Only on your stomach, back and sides? I would suggest looking on line. When I went in, my doctor just looked up on the Mayo Clinic website and printed me out a page. It is nothing serious, just something people in their 20's can get, it will go away on it's own and sunlight will help. But check online before you spend the money on a doctors visit :)

Your story reminded me of the summer my husband put in a large, beautiful garden and was eating tomatoes as if they
were apples. He ended up with red spots. He went to a naturopath, who introduced us the the Eat Right for your Blood Type books. Turns out my husband is Blood Type A, who do not do well with tomatoes. Now, he eats them in moderation and primarily in season and seems to be fine.
Hope you discover what is the correct answer for you.

Hi B.,

I had something similar,though mine also spread to my chest. I went to a doctor who identified it in a book and said it was harmless and would go away by itself, which it eventually did. However, later I went to a Naturopath for something else and was told that the rash was most likely due to an overgrowth of yeast. Look up Candida...it's very common, and you can tame it by cutting way back on your sugar intake. I'm still not positive that this is what it was, but it never did come back. I am in my 40's by the way, and have never had problems with eczema.

It sounds like hives to me. I had a reaction to a medication and got spots like you're describing. Mine never itched either.

I had this problem a while ago and it turned out to be eczema -comes and goes, in different spots and sometimes itchy, sometimes not. You might check with your doctor and ask if that could be it. They gave me some topical ointment that I use sparingly only when it shows up. You could also try some Aveno lotion - maybe it is just a dry patch. After having a baby - even long after, our bodies tend to do weird things. Just the fun of being a woman with hormones! Check with the doc though.

Oh My Goodness!! I never thought I would EVER hear of anyone with something so similar to the appearance on my body! I have the exact same thing (from your description) on my stomach, sides, and breasts. Nowhere else. They aren't raised, do not itch, and appear a deeper red after a hot shower. Mine have been there for over 8 years now. My doctor tried multiple topical ointments and creams - nothing changed. She sent me to a dermatologist, who gave her own go at it, no change. Everyone was baffled by this. Clearly, it's not contagious - my husband has never developed it, or my two sons whom I breastfed, and still am with the baby, have never developed it either. We lost a 6 year old daughter eight years ago... about one week before I noticed these spots on me. I assumed it was some kind of reaction to the trauma/stress of the tragedy. At one point, the dermatologist sent me to a "Derm meeting" where about 15-20 other dermatologists gathered in the same building and they took their turn examining the spots and what not. Later after I left, they had a discussion and when my dermatologist called me back for an appt, the consensus was pretty much along the lines of "we have no idea!" A biopsy was done as well, in which they kinda dug and scraped and removed one of the spots... but of course, it came back as "unknown." I just deal with it now. They aren't going anywhere... especially if all of these doctors and dermatologists and lab technicians can't even put a name to it, let alone have any course of treatment that will get rid of it. If you do make an appt with your doctor, and you find out other ideas or treatment plans, please LET ME KNOW!! I am so interested and curious about this. Good luck!

Kim

It sounds like eczema which can be an indication of a food/drug/soap sensitivity. Try taking a cool bath filled with colloidal oatmeal and moisturize within 3 minutes of getting out of the bath with a gentle fragrance and filler-free moisturizer. Make sure your daily showers are not too hot also.

Sounds similar to the hives I get, also, except that mine usually do itch. After two years of off and on misery, I finally went to an allergist. She thinks it's an allergy to dust mites. Whatever it is, as long as I take Zyrtec daily they don't come back. I would recommend NOT waiting two year before getting medical advice! :)

Its hard to tell with what you told us. HAve your eaten something different recently? Different detergent?fabric softener? If so it could be a reaction to something. Also stress can cause hives, used to happen to my sister in law.
Are the patches dry, overly dry? If so you may eczema. Anti itch cream will help with the itching and thick moiturizers will help the dryiness. Also vasaline works well.
Going to the dr is probably the best idea since there could be many reasons for the rash.